Ancient History Jewelry Stories

We are continuing the conversation about jewelry forgeries by taking a look at some fake historical pieces, embarassing discoveries of forgeries in museum collections, and an ongoing drama involving Fabergé eggs!

Fakes and counterfeits are a huge problem in the jewelry world, from faux designer jewels to modern pieces meant to fool buyers into believing they're genuine antiquities. Far from being a modern problem, this scam has been around for thousands of years! In this episode, we tackle the age-old con of faking precious gems, whether by substituting them with cheaper lookalikes, or creating synthetic dupes.

By popular demand! For this month's podcast episode topic, I enlisted the help of my Patreon members in the form of a poll (well, two polls), and the topic chosen for April was Art Nouveau jewelry. In part 2, we dive into the histories of two of the most famous art nouveau jewelers, René Lalique and Georges Fouquet, along with the influence of Alphonse Mucha and the most important woman in the movement, Sarah Bernhardt.

By popular demand! For this month's podcast episode topic, I enlisted the help of my Patreon members in the form of a poll (well, two polls), and the topic chosen for April was Art Nouveau jewelry. In part 1, we cover the basics of the Art Nouveau design movement, along with three incredible jewelry designers- Lucien Gaillard, Henri Vever, and Gabriel Falguieres.

Some of you may have noticed that there were no new podcast episodes during the month of March- no, I did not fall into a portal that transported me back in time to Ptolemaic Egypt (I wish), but I did take the month off to regroup and stave off some dreaded burnout. The podcast will be back in full swing for the month of April, with a new topic that *you,* the lovely listeners, can help me choose! Head over to www.patreon.com/ancienthistoryjewelrystories and become a member to vote on the poll for this month's Deep Dive and podcast topic, then join me here in two weeks as we dive in.

Continuing our look into the early history of a truly great American jewelry house, this episode explores some of the immensely talented craftspeople and goldsmiths who were instrumental in bringing Charles Lewis Tiffany and Louis Comfort Tiffany's visions to life. Learn about the contributions of Paulding Farnham, Julia Munson, and Meta Overbeck, along with some of the women who were responsible for crafting some of Tiffany's stained glass masterpieces.

Tiffany & Company is a jewelry and luxury goods brand that has managed to saturate pop culture and public awareness, though many people are unfamiliar with their early history, and their close connection to Tiffany glass. Come with me as we get to know three of the main figures who made the jewelry house the unstoppable force it remains today- Charles Lewis Tiffany, Louis Comfort Tiffany (yes, the glass guy), and George Frederick Kunz.

We pick up the History of the famed House of Fabergé where we left off, with an ancient Scythian bracelet and a very impressed Emperor Alexander III. The history continues with the story of the Imperial Easter Eggs, where they ended up, and just what happened to the illustrious firm.

The illustrious House of Fabergé, best known for its whimsical, jewel-encrusted Easter Eggs, has a surprising connection to ancient jewelry. From its founding in 1842 until the fated meeting between Peter Carl Fabergé and Emperor Alexander III, this episode is a journey through the early History of the famed jewelry house, and just what led to the infamous eggs.

Come with me as we go on a journey spanning the globe, across millenia, to take a look at the incredible number of cultures that have cherished turquoise, from the ancient Egyptians to the Mexica people and so many more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

Whether you love or hate your birthstone(s), you'll probably be surprised to learn that the concept is more than two thousand years old! From the biblical Breastplate of Aaron, to Hindu astrology, and a jeweler's conference in Kansas in 1912, our modern idea of birthstones has some surprising, and very intinteresting, roots. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

A brief look into the intriguing history of filigree, a technique which was been popular for over 5000 years, and continues to evolve in cultures around the world. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

We continue our look into the history of body piercing, continuing the saga of strange myths and real customs with lip, nipple, and genital piercings! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

A much-requested topic, we start the ancient history of body piercing with a look into earlobe and nose piercings! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

Victorian era Europe saw an increasing interest in the glory days of the Renaissance, and a burgeoning middle class had the money to spend on historical works of art. Goldsmith Reinhold Vasters was just the man to meet the demand, turning out dozens, if not hundreds, of pieces meant to be taken as true Renaissance originals. They were, too, until a chance discovery in the 1970s uncovered the truth. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

History's Greatest Jewelry Scandals, Part 2 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

For this month's Deep Dive, we are going to take a look at some historical jewelry scandals, from the frustrating to the awe-inspiring. In this episode, we cover the only time the British Royal Jewels were stolen, the whereabouts of the missing French Blue diamond, and the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

The inevitable conclusion, and final episode of this month's very very deep dive into jewelry as magical symbol! We pick up where we left off, in Hellenistic Greece, touch on a few other Eurasian cultures, and then take a look at some of the ritual uses of jewelry in pre Columbian Mesoamerican and Andean cultures. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

Let's continue our tumble into the rabbithole of jewelry as magical symbol, with a trip through the use of jewelry through a few different eras of history in ancient Greece. Along with the continuing use of amulets and protective jewelry, the influx of gold into ancient Greece changed the way jewelry and belief were intertwined, giving us some absolutely spectacular examples of goldsmithing and craftsmanship made in the name of ritual and devotion. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

We are going on the deepest of dives this month, discussing the rich and fascinating history of jewelry as magical object, spanning hundreds of thousands of years. In part one we talk about the oldest known jewelry, the first known purely symbolic adornments, and how ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians approached jewelry and spiritualism. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

We continue our Deep Dive into the histories of everyone's favorite precious metals, gold and silver. This episode we cover the cool, shiny, moonlike metal, silver, and its secret importance as a driving force behind most cultures, ancient and modern. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

Here it is, folks- the big one, the foundation of it all, the history of everyone's favorite shiny gold metal, gold! Let's discuss 7,000 years of gold and why we even think it's special to begin with. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

Let's continue our love affair with archeological revival jewelry as we delve into the three centuries long history of Egyptian revival jewelry, complete with yet another Napoleon Bonaparte appearance. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support

Come with me on a journey into the history of archeological revival jewelry, a companion to this month's Deep Dive Wednesday videos. Episode one covers Hellenistic Revival/Neoclassical, Etruscan Revival, and how ancient Scythian jewelry was responsible for the Faberge egg. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ahjs/support